Chapter 1 - Memories
From what she had gathered in all her years, war was a violent bloody thing. She was thrust into a war at fifteen and ended the very same one at seventeen. With any war, lives are lost: people die, they are maimed, captured, and tortured, and some are forced to live on with memories of the savage game they endured. Kagome was one of the latter victims. She dealt the final blow to her enemy after and during the deaths and injuries that were delivered to her friends, family, and loved ones.
Inu-Yasha died protecting Kikyo from the tentacles that sought her blood. Kagome was sad to see him go, but over the two years she had been with him, she had seen him as a brotherly influence rather than a candidate for love. Kikyo died shortly after him, taking the same tentacle that took him through her heart. Kagome had grown fond of Kikyo, never mind how she had tried to kill Kagome in the past.
Kohaku died, after cruel lengths of torture from Naraku, by Sango's hand. Sango saved him from his cycling nightmares and gave him the death he wanted. Sango and Miroku, filled with sorrow and regret, lived. They were beaten, bloody, and exhausted by the end of it, but they had managed. Kirara nearly died protecting Shippo. Sesshomaru in all his glory destroyed most of Naraku's minions, including Kagura and Kanna, leaving the fight with few wounds. Kouga and Ayame survived with multiple wounds, and mated shortly after.
Kagome had taken many hits: She had scrapes on her elbows and knees, cuts lined her body and dripped with dark red blood, her most prominent injury was probably the scratch on her side that traveled to her lower back. Her injuries would heal, but her nightmares would never cease. She had been tortured by the hands of the dark beast who sought the jewel; she had been taken from her world of simple pleasures and happiness and thrown into a world of chaos and sorrow. But with the death of Naraku, light could reign again. Cold clouds that hovered over Japan would cease to exist; dark shadows would recede, and even in the darkness of her heart, there would be light.
The war was over. At least that's what she had thought. When the Jewel clipped together and purred at completion, Kagome was asked to make a wish. Steeling her resolve, she knew what she had to ask for. She was aware of the consequences, but at that moment, she didn't care. She remembered the wish like it was yesterday.
"Shinkon no Tama, my wish… I wish… for everyone on the battle field, dead or alive, to get what they deserve." Naraku would go to hell, he more than deserved it. Her friends who she loved would get what they wanted, and Kagome herself knew that she would probably go to hell. She may be damned for eternity for her selfish wish, but she couldn't care less, her friends would be happy. Kagome herself had caused all the trouble, it was only right that she suffered for it.
Midoriko stared down at her in silence. "Child, do you understand what you are saying? Are you prepared for the consequences?" Kagome gave a shaky breath before nodding.
Midoriko smiled. "You are very brave." She paused. "You, Kagome Higurashi will forever be the guardian of the Shikon no Tama. You are its keeper and as such, you will endure the curse of immortality. Good luck Kagome, new adventure awaits you."